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Game Preview | To No Surprise, McConnell Finding Ways on Court

Scene Setter:

Each fall, it seems, a similar theme resurfaces:

Where will T.J. McConnell land in the 76ers’ rotation?

Following his encouraging 2015-16 rookie campaign, people wondered if the undrafted, underdog Arizona product could actually be for real.

Then, after he started 51 games in 2016-17, questioning shifted to whether McConnell would still be able to get playing time, with the impending debuts of no. 1 picks Ben Simmons (injured the previous year) and Markelle Fultz.

Fultz ended up missing most of his rookie season, which opened the door for McConnell once again.

When the 26-year old averaged fewer than 12 minutes per game last month in the preseason, some took it as a sign that this would be the season McConnell really felt the crunch.

That perception, however, couldn’t have been more divergent from Brett Brown’s vision line.

By now, you know how the head coach feels about McConnell.

How much he believes in him, trusts him, values his spirit, and - above all that and most pertinent - thinks McConnell is a really good NBA player.

Yes, Ben Simmons (lower back tightness) sitting out the last seven quarters of Sixers’ basketball has resulted in McConnell assuming a heightened role, but he was always going to be in the mix.

“It doesn’t surprise any of us who have been around T.J.,” Brown said Tuesday, before the Sixers played the Detroit Pistons. “This is what he does. He finds ways to get on a court.”

The past three years, McConnell has provided numerous examples of his prowess as a passer, and an aggressive, impactful irritant of a defender.

Of particular note about his start to the current season, though, is how assertive he’s been with his scoring opportunities. It’s almost as if when he gets to his spots - at the elbows for a jumper, into the lane for a lay-up, or along the baseline for a scoop - he feels a stronger sense of empowerment to actually take those shots, whereas in the past, he’d be a little less willing to call his own number.

Time, and results, have appeared to breed increased confidence.

And McConnell should feel this way, given how consistently he converts in these situations.

Rarely is the guard’s scoring ever forced. His approach is know-thyself in nature.

Here’s his shotchart so far:

“When he can get into close enough to the paint, and come off an elbow and rise up, most times I think it’s going in,” said Brown. “When you say what sort of is his sweet spot, his honey spot, that is it - it’s that pull up from 17 feet.” Through four games this season, McConnell is averaging 6.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 21.3 minutes per game. He’s hit 57.1 percent of his attempts from the field, after entering the year a 47.5 percent shooter.

“I feel like [McConnell’s shooting] was a strength that has gotten stronger from Day One,” Brown said.

Opponent Outlook:

For the second time in as many nights, the Sixers will taken on an unbeaten opponent.

Led by new head coach Mike Budenholzer, a former Brett Brown colleague in San Antonio, Milwaukee Bucks (3-0) have opened the season by beating Charlotte (+1), Indiana (+17), and New York (+11).

Perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has increased his scoring output each game, to-date tallying no fewer than 25 points in a contest. He scored 31 Monday versus the Knicks.

Wednesday will mark the Sixers’ first visit ever to brand new Fiserv Forum.

Follow Along:

• Audio: 97.5 FM The Fanatic / Sixers Radio Network

• Video: NBC Sports Philadelphia / NBC Sports MyTeams app, ESPN / WatchESPN app

Source: https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/game-preview-no-surprise-mcconnell-finding-ways-court

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Elliott, Prescott lead Cowboys past Eagles 27-20

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott left the defending Super Bowl champions wondering how their season went wrong.

Elliott had 151 yards rushing and his go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter helped the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20 on Sunday night.

The Eagles fell to 4-5 with their third straight loss at home while the Cowboys improved to 4-5. Washington leads the NFC East at 6-3.

''All of us need to look in the mirror,'' Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson said. ''Are we doing enough? Are we giving enough? You have to strain yourself to make plays. We didn't do it. Each person, each coach, each player in the locker room has to look at yourself and decide every day to give your best.''

The Cowboys gave their all to give embattled coach Jason Garrett a week off from questions about his job security.

''You can imagine the way Jason Garrett, his resolve before the game,'' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. ''I asked him before the game, 'you feeling any pressure?' (Garrett replied) 'It just makes me want to go out and do more to turn this thing.'''

Prescott had 270 yards passing, tossed for one touchdown and also ran for a score. Elliott also had a TD reception .

''It was absolutely mandatory that we went and got this win,'' Elliott said. ''We wanted to keep our hopes up for winning this division and making the playoffs.''

Carson Wentz threw a pair of TD passes to Zach Ertz, but his pass to Ertz on fourth down fell a yard short of a first down at the Cowboys 29 with 1:09 left. The Eagles got the ball back at their 32 with 40 seconds left and drove to the Cowboys 32 for the final play. Wentz completed a pass to Ertz inside the Dallas 10. Ertz lateraled to Golden Tate but he was tackled for no gain to end it.

''We just didn't execute,'' said Wentz, who finished 32 of 44 for 360 yards with one interception. ''We all got to look in the mirror and ask what can we do better.''

It was a defensive battle into the third quarter before the offenses went back-and-forth.

Elliott ran in from the 1 to give Dallas a 27-20 lead after Prescott completed passes of 24 yards to Amari Cooper and 23 yards to Allen Hurns on the drive.

Coming off a bye, the Eagles were listless in the first half and trailed 13-3 before rallying to tie it on Wentz's 15-yard TD pass to Ertz late in the third quarter. Wentz connected with Jordan Matthews for 18 yards on third-and-11 to extend the drive. He hit him again for 12 yards on the next play and found Ertz a few plays later.

Prescott tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Elliott to give Dallas a 20-13 lead on the ensuing possession. Elliott accounted for 57 of the 75 yards on the drive.

But the Eagles answered. Wentz hit Nelson Agholor, who made an excellent catch for a 51-yard gain to the Cowboys 8. Wentz found Ertz in the back of the end zone for a 1-yard TD pass to tie it at 20-20.

Prescott engineered a 75-yard drive in the final 90 seconds of the first half to send the Eagles into the locker room to a chorus of boos from a frustrated crowd.

Michael Gallup turned a screen pass on third-and-15 at the Cowboys 35 into a 25-yard gain. Prescott connected with Cole Beasley for 21 yards and hit Hurns for 17 yards to the Eagles 1. Prescott then sneaked in for the score.

After hearing it from their fans, the Eagles came out with a stop on defense and the offense drove to the Cowboys 11 before having to settle for Jake Elliott's 26-yard field goal.

TRICKY

The Cowboys tried a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from their 31 and Jeff Heath took a direct snap and ran three yards. A few plays later, Elliott hurdled Tre Sullivan on a 32-yard run to the Eagles 8. But Michael Bennett sacked Prescott on third down and Brett Maher kicked a 31-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead.

GOLDEN'S DEBUT

Tate, acquired by the Eagles from Detroit on Oct. 30, had only two catches for 19 yards.

INJURIES

Eagles: CB Ronald Darby left the game after injuring his knee in the second half. Starters Jalen Mills and Sidney Jones already were out of the lineup.

UP NEXT

Cowboys: Visit the Atlanta Falcons (4-5) on Sunday.

Eagles: Visit the New Orleans Saints (8-1) on Sunday.

---

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/elliott-prescott-lead-cowboys-past-eagles-27-20-043451922--nfl.html?src=rss

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Three numbers that matter for the Eagles’ big Week 16 game against the Texans

Here’s a look at three numbers that matter as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to play the Houston Texans in Week 16.

52 - Sacks allowed by the Texans, most in the NFL

Houston’s o-line has clearly done a terrible job of protecting Deshaun Watson this season. The Texans’ offensive line is very bad.

It ranks 32nd in pass protection by Football Outsiders. It ranks tied for 29th by the Pro Football Focus pass blocking efficiency metric.

In addition to allowing a league-leading 52 sacks, they’ve allowed 29 quarterback hits (seventh most) and 125 hurries (fourth most).

On paper, at least, this weakness seems like a big issue for the Texans as they prepare to face an Eagles team that actually leads the league in quarterback hits. Generating pressure is one of Philadelphia’s biggest strengths.

The Texans’ offensive line is especially weak on the edges; starting left tackle Julie’n Davenport has the second worst pressure rate in the league. This needs to be a game where Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett, and Chris Long really dominate. Rushing Watson effectively can limit the Texans’ ability to get the ball to stud wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Watson has taken care of the ball when it comes to not throwing picks. He only has two interceptions in his last seven games, with both of them coming against Washington. Watson, who certainly isn’t afraid to take off running, can be a little loose with the ball, though. He has 11 fumbles in 20 career starts.

Getting to Watson and knocking the ball out will be key in this game. Jim Schwartz’s unit needs to give the offense some short field(s) to work with against a tough Houston defnse.

3.6 - Texans defense ranks 1st overall in opponent yards per rush attempt

The Eagles have had some nice offensive success when they’re been able to be balanced this season. It’s look like it’ll be tough to be balanced against the Texans, however, given that their run defense is stout. Football Outsiders ranks it second overall in terms of DVOA.

There’s some level of hope in the Eagles’ ability to run the ball since their offensive line has been playing at a high level recently. But the Texans’ front seven is just a real tough unit. J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, Benardrick McKinney, and Zach Cunningham are some real legit players in that group.

If the Eagles aren’t going to be able to run the ball efficiently, that suddenly puts a whole lot of pressure on Nick Foles to deliver with his arm. There’s obviously reason to have some confidence in the reigning Super Bowl MVP. But the feeling here is that Foles plays better when the system is working for him. It’s not like he’s at his best when he’s going out and putting the entire team on his back in spite of everything else failing around him.

If the offensive line can protect Foles like they did last year (three hits, zero sacks) then the Eagles should be able to get some things going in passing game. They’ll likely need BDN to come up big once again on Sunday.

53% - Eagles’ playoff chances with a win

Independent of any other result, the Eagles’ playoff chances will increase from 39% to 53% by beating the Texans. Pretty solid.

Losing to the Texans, meanwhile, drops their chances to just 12%. The Eagles can be officially eliminated if they lose to Houston and the Vikings beat the Lions in Detroit.

If the Lions somehow score the upset AND the Eagles beat the Texans, that increases Philly’s odds to 76%. The Eagles would then just need to beat Washington in Week 17 to make the NFC playoff picture as the No. 6 seed (assuming Dallas doesn’t lose out). If the Vikings win and the Eagles win, Philly’s chances will only be around 35%. In that case, the Eagles would NEED the Vikings to lose to the Bears in Week 17.

The Eagles have their work cut out for them. Beating Houston won’t be easy. The Texans aren’t an absolute juggernaut but they’re not bad by any means. Winning on Sunday guarantees the Eagles will at least be playing meaningful football in the final week of the regular season. Here’s hoping they find a way to get it done.

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/12/21/18151206/three-numbers-matter-eagles-big-week-16-game-texans-preview-philadelphia-houston-sacks-watson-foles

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Theatre in the X seeking community support ahead of August staging of “The Beast of Nubia”

July 18, 2019

One of our favorite things about summer in West Philly is performances by Theatre in the X, the company that stages free Afrocentric plays at Malcolm X. Park. This summer they will present the world premiere of “The Beast of Nubia” on Aug. 4, 11 and 18. (look for a more detailed preview later this month). Check out the trailer below. For now, we wanted to let people know about their fundraiser and volunteer sign-up.

Theatre in the X has a GoFundMe campaign here to keep the summer performances going well into the future. They are also seeking volunteers for everything from ushers to wardrobe assistants to set builders. Go here to fill out the volunteer form. 

Theatre in the X was created in 2013 to, as they write, “provide the people of West Philadelphia and the African American community at large the opportunity to see professional quality theater in their own neighborhood for no cost. By removing the barriers of location and price the audience is able to experience theater that they possibly would not be able to access otherwise.”

Past performances have included Othello, The Meeting, the world premiere of Running Numbers and last year’s take on The Wiz.

Source: http://www.westphillylocal.com/2019/07/18/theatre-in-the-x-fundraiser-ahead-of-august-staging-of-the-beast-of-nubia/

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Toyota Recalling 188,000 Vehicles Due To Air Bag Failure

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DETROIT (CBS/AP) — Toyota is recalling nearly 188,000 pickup trucks, SUVs and cars worldwide because the air bags may not inflate in a crash.

The automaker says the recall covers 2018 and 2019 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs. The recall also covers 2019 Avalon sedans as well.

Toyota says the air bag control computer can erroneously detect a fault when the vehicles are started. With a fault, the air bags may not deploy in a crash. The company wouldn’t say if the problem has caused any injuries.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Employees Still Receiving Free Tolls Despite State Officials’ Calls To End Pricey Perk

Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the air bag control software. The recall is expected to begin Oct. 22.

Toyota says the recall covers about 185,000 vehicles in North America and 2,600 in other markets.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2018/10/12/toyota-recalling-188000-vehicles-due-to-air-bag-failure/

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Fantasy projections for the top offseason addition for all 32 NFL teams

May 30, 2019

Mike ClayESPN Writer

Close

Fantasy football, NFL analyst for ESPN.com

Member of Pro Football Writers of America

Founding director of Pro Football Focus Fantasy

2013 FSTA award winner for most accurate preseason rankings

Roster turnover is rampant in the NFL and, as usual, a considerable number of offseason moves affected the fantasy landscape. Below is a breakdown of the roster additions with the biggest fantasy implications for all 32 teams, along with each player's 2019 statistical projection.

JUMP TO A TEAM: AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ AFC North: BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT AFC South: HOU | IND | JAX | TEN AFC West: DEN | KC | LAC | OAK NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WSH NFC North: CHI | DET | GB | MIN NFC South: ATL | CAR | NO | TB NFC West: ARI | LAR | SF | SEA

2 Related

2019 projection: 325-of-520 passing, 3,726 yards, 23 TD, 15 INT; 98 carries, 542 yards, 4 rushing TDs

The No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, Murray is a near-lock to be under center for Arizona come Week 1. The dual-threat quarterback averaged an FBS-record 11.6 yards per pass attempt while adding 1,001 rushing yards at Oklahoma last season. Even if he struggles as a passer out of the gate (as rookies often do), history suggests quarterbacks who make significant contributions with their legs can have fantasy relevance as rookies. Murray's pedigree and upside make him worth a late-round flier.

2019 projection: 27 touches, 116 yards, 1 TD

Atlanta didn't give us much to work with, but fifth-round pick Ollison is an intriguing sleeper. Devonta Freeman is atop the depth chart but has missed action each of the past two seasons, including playing only 64 snaps in 2018. Tevin Coleman left in free agency, leaving Ollison to compete for No. 2 duties with Ito Smith, who struggled to 3.5 yards per carry (1.5 after contact) and a position-worst 5.6 yards per reception last season. Ollison is a huge back (6-foot-1, 228 pounds) who offers little as a receiver but could do damage in fantasy as an early-down and goal-line thumper. He'll be a hot add if Freeman gets injured again.

play

0:50

Adam Schefter discusses Mark Ingram's intention to sign a three-year contract with the Ravens to become the lead back in Baltimore.

2019 projection: 229 carries, 1,014 yards, 7 TDs; 29 receptions, 217 yards, 1 TD

Ingram signed on as Baltimore's lead back following eight seasons with the Saints. Ingram ranks first in yards per carry (4.73) and second in yards after contact per attempt (2.10) among backs with 650-plus carries over the past six seasons. The 29-year-old has also been a force near the goal line (second in the league with 39 rushing touchdowns over the past five seasons). As the feature back in the league's most run-heavy offense, Ingram has a chance to clear his previous career high of 230 carries set in 2017, though his receiving contributions figure to be limited.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/26796587/fantasy-projections-top-offseason-addition-all-32-nfl-teams

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The top Curbed Philly longreads of 2018

Buildings, public spaces, and policy shape so many aspects of Philadelphians’ lives, whether we want to know how the structure of the city is changing, or just what happened to that old, once-crumbling building in our neighborhood.

In 2018, Curbed Philly aimed to tell some of the stories of those Philly spaces, their history, and the people behind them. One of the ways we approached this was through long, deep looks into several aspects of Philly’s growth. So settle in, grab a snack or a drink (it is New Year’s Eve, after all) and check out some of our top, in-depth reads of this year.

In this deep, informative piece, former Curbed Philly editor Melissa Romero explored what will happen to the Delaware River island as the last industrial company leaves the space, allowing environmentalists to help bring it back to nature. The story looks at the history of the island and the long struggle to bring it back to its roots.

Quote: “This is one of the few places that went from nature to industry to oil to coal, and then back.”

As any Philadelphian knows, the Parker Hotel in the Gayborhood has a long, sordid history. Rumors and speculation abound about what happened at this hotel (including a short, but fairly well-watched documentary) but the facts are that it’s a historic building that’s seen well-known boxers, musicians, and more come through its doors. It’s struggled more in recent years, but the owners have revamped the space, hoping to bring a new life, new reputation, and new feel to the hotel. This story is a dive into its past and what the owners hope for its future.

Quote: “The tale of just any hotel’s renovation might not be noteworthy, but for Philadelphia, The Parker isn’t just any hotel.”

What does the transformation of Fishtown’s popular Girard Avenue look like in 2018? What could the future hold? Is there room for local, small business development? This story looks at all of those questions as it tells the tale of one man’s quest (along with several loyal friends and his business partner) to transform a run-down carriage house on the far end of Girard into a thriving, hip cider tap house. Unlike the other stories on this list, this one gives a deep look at the renovations themselves, and the work it took to bring a place from rubble to reuse.

Quote: “Those panic moments—and their sigh-of-relief resolutions—have now become lore, embedded into the brick and concrete and exposed beams of the tap house.”

Photo by Melissa Romero

One story that took over the Philly headlines in 2018 was the construction tax bill. A restructured, revamped version of its 2017 cousin, the construction tax bill was introduced in the spring, planning to levy a 1 percent tax on all new construction projects, to help pay for affordable—or at least, not super-luxurious—housing. What ensued was months of debate, protest, support, and speculation, primarily about whether Mayor Jim Kenney would use his first veto to send the bill packing. This story goes over every little detail of the bill, its history, and its importance in the city. Much has happened since then, which you can read about here, but this story was a look at all of the ways the proposal divided the city for nearly a year.

Quote: “Somehow it turned into affordable housing-slash-home improvement bill”

Melissa Romero

You’ve likely walked past it on your way into or out of Old City; maybe it’s even caught your eye as you run to catch a movie or swing by the bank. But how many homegrown Philadelphians have actually stepped inside the towering, 100-year-old Bourse building in recent years just for a visit? Up until recently the building has been known for its first-floor food court that was largely targeted to tourists, with 80’s-style decor and eateries all packed together.

Now, a recent renovation is looking to wash the historic building of that image, and bring a contemporary, sleek feel to the place—one that caters to tourists and the average local alike. Here, we looked at the history and importance of the building, as well as how it’s changed under the new renovation project.

Quote: “We’re restoring the glory”

Let’s end this list with a bang. One of the best group of longform stories this year was painstakingly put together at the beginning of 2018 by Melissa Romero, who looked at all the ways the great architect Louis Kahn has had a lasting impact on the city of Philadelphia. There’s the story on his history and influence by Izzy Kornblatt; another on a family living in a Kahn house; one on all of Kahn’s great works up and down the east coast; and tons and tons more. Settle in with a coffee and a day’s worth of snacks for this one, it’s a long, enjoyable bunch of reads.

Quote: “ Kahn had a unique ability to tap into some kind of universal aesthetic”

Source: https://philly.curbed.com/2018/12/31/18160011/curbed-philly-best-longreads-2018

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Are Philly Streets Any Safer After a Year of Vision Zero? We Look at the Report.

City

The ambitious initiative is progressing — but we’ve still got a long way to go if we want to reach zero traffic deaths by 2030. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s been one year since the city launched Vision Zero, its plan to completely eliminate traffic fatalities by 2030.

Official released on Friday morning a report detailing the project’s progression — as well as areas where efforts have fallen short.

The major takeaway? Philly saw fewer traffic-related deaths and severe injuries since the launch of Vision Zero. However, if fatalities continue to occur at the same pace they have been, we won’t reach our goal of zero deaths by 2030.

Officials say it’s still possible, though: Through measures like improved road infrastructure, educational initiatives, and policy changes, they believe that the city can slowly chip away at its number of traffic fatalities — six deaths fewer per year, they hope — to get where they want to be.

Here are other takeaways from the Vision Zero one-year report.

Philly’s streets are safer than they were a year ago. That’s largely thanks to a few ambitious new infrastructure programs: New bus plazas on Roosevelt Boulevard (a high-speed corridor); trash trucks upgraded with new safety features, including four 360-degree cameras and side guards (notably after Emily Fredricks was struck and killed by a private trash truck while bicycling on Spruce Street); and a protected bike lane pilot program on Market Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, which saw the installment of the city’s first bike signals.

In addition, the Chestnut Street bike lane — the city’s first one-way protected lane, which opened in August 2017 — was evaluated, revealing a 47 percent reduction in the number of vehicles traveling on the stretch of the lane with speeds above the posted limit during morning commute hours.

However, our streets are still far from safe enough. In 2017, Philly lost 78 people in traffic crashes, and 244 more sustained severe injuries in crashes. That reflects a 19 percent decrease in fatalities from 96 in 2016, but deaths are still occurring at a far higher rate than other major cities with Vision Zero policies: When it comes to traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents, Philly stood at 6.4 in 2016, while New York recorded just 3, Boston saw 4.2, Chicago saw 5.2 and Seattle saw 4.7. Los Angeles, which has notoriously deadly streets, came in just slightly higher than Philly at 7.8.

The city figures that to hit our goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2030, we must reduce the number of related deaths in the city by roughly six each year. It’s going to take a lot of change — infrastructure, education, etc. — to make that happen.

Pedestrians are most susceptible to traffic-related deaths in Philly. In 2017, while 15 percent of crashes involved pedestrians, they made up nearly half of all traffic deaths. The city is hoping to combat this in the second year of Vision Zero by launching the Pedestrian Safety Study and Action Plan, which aims to identify trends in crashes and guide efforts to implement improvements.

Overall, of the 78 people killed and 244 severely injured in 2017, 144 people were traveling in vehicles, while 87 people were walking and 13 were on bikes, according to the city.

Image via the Mayor’s Office

Two of the slowest areas of progress? Bike lanes and local policy.

Remember Mayor Jim Kenney’s goal to build 30 miles of protected bike lanes? Yeah, it’s moving along slowly. The city now says it’s aiming to install 40 miles of protected lanes by 2025 — an ambitious goal.

Plus, out of all the areas where Vision Zero is tracking progress, efforts to change local policy are lagging. One major recent victory? Working with state legislators to gain approval for speed cameras along Roosevelt Boulevard, where 13 deaths occurred so far this year, as a pilot program. That was approved this month. But so far, the Mayor’s Office has yet to work with City Council to draft legislation authorizing the implementation of traffic calming/safety improvements though changes to road signage, markings and configuration — and it’s also yet to work with state legislators to gain approval for local control of speed limits (though the city did just announce that neighborhood streets around the city will have speed limits reduced to 25 mph, effective immediately). Plus, efforts to study implications of instituting stricter laws for injuring or killing pedestrians or cyclists within the right of way — like New York City’s Right of Way Law — are also moving along slowly. What can we say? Such is bureaucracy. But the city — and legislators — must do better to hit the Vision Zero goal.

More is coming — expect to see new street infrastructure projects (and safer streets) in the next few years of Vision Zero. Last year saw the launch of several infrastructure projects, including the American Street Improvement Project (medians, shortened pedestrian crossing distances, and protected bike lanes on North American Street) and the Lincoln Drive Safety Program. Other forthcoming projects, which have secured funding and are expected to begin in the next three to five years, include raised medians on North Broad Street between Girard and Cecil B. Moore avenues, raised medians and improved sidewalks at South Broad and Locust streets, and a side path along South Broad Street connecting Pattison Avenue and the Navy Yard (which is probably welcomed by anyone who has ever tried to walk between the two).

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2018/10/19/vision-zero-one-year-report/

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SHCA monthly board meeting to discuss affordable housing (updated)

January 7, 2019

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) monthly board meeting will be held this Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th Street). All community members are invited and welcome to attend.

The guest speaker at this month’s meeting is Nicole Ozdemir from the City Planning Commission. She will join SHCA members to talk about the city’s efforts regarding affordable housing. This will be an informational discussion to educate and update the board on the city’s mixed-income affordable housing bill and related initiatives. Regular committee reports will follow.

Affordable housing is becoming a big problem for Philadelphia, especially in gentrifying neighborhoods like Spruce Hill.

It was reported last month that Mission First Housing Group, one of the largest providers of affordable housing in the city, decided to move ahead with their plans to sell the Arvilla apartment building on the 4500 block of Osage Avenue and elicited protests from neighbors.

Source: http://www.westphillylocal.com/2019/01/07/shca-monthly-board-meeting-to-discuss-affordable-housing/

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Connect With Nature At The New John James Audubon Center At Mill Grove

Nature lovers have an exciting new destination to visit in Montgomery County.

The John James Audubon Center, a new immersive museum and nature facility, opens at the site of famed U.S. ornithologist John James Audubon’s historic 18th-century home and property on Wednesday, June 5.

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON CENTER FAST FACTS

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove opens on Wednesday, June 5.

The museum and nature facility features interactive exhibits about birds, conservation and John James Audubon’s work.

Highlights include the immersive WOW Birds! Gallery, the kid-friendly Fledging Trail and a birdwatching area.

Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and military, $12 for youth and free for children under 3 years old.

At the new attraction, visitors can explore galleries and permanent exhibits about conservation and art, an outdoor birdwatching area and an interactive exhibit that allows people to experience the earliest stages of a bird’s life, from egg to first flight.

(Photo by Luke Franke/Audubon)

Visitors can listen to the songs of birds that live in different habitats, learn how birds’ wings work and more in the WOW Birds! Gallery.

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove joins the existing historic house, barn and nature trails at Mill Grove in attracting visitors eager to enjoy and appreciate nature.

The museum’s galleries and permanent exhibits aim to educate, engage and inspire visitors interested in birds, art, conservation and Audubon’s legacy.

Drawn From Nature – The John James Audubon Gallery dives into Audubon’s seminal work The Birds of America, which consists of 435 paintings of different bird species that call North America home. Visitors can see rare first-edition copies of the book in this gallery and also browse a life-size digital version.

The WOW Birds! Gallery is all about the variety, characteristics and flight of birds along the Atlantic Flyway, the major north-to-south route for migratory birds in North America. Visitors can push a button to hear the songs of different birds in the immersive Sound Forest, discover how birds’ wings work and more in this gallery.

In Conservation Stories, visitors can learn more about the mission of the National Audubon Society, Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Program and Project Puffin. The exhibit highlights the ornithologist’s pioneering work in bird conservation and details how biologists restored the dwindling populations of Atlantic Puffins on the coast of Maine.

(Photo by Luke Franke/Audubon)

Visitors can venture outside of the museum to a designated area for birdwatching and learn more about the Mill Grove’s wondrous wildlife.

The immersive experiences extend beyond the galleries to areas outside of the museum.

More than 175 species of birds and more than 400 species of native plants call the 175-acre Mill Grove estate home. Visitors can head outside of the center to Pawlings Porch to birdwatch over a wildflower meadow and learn more about Mill Grove’s resident birds and plants.

An outdoor installation called Fledging Trail is geared toward children and features simulations of the many phases of a bird’s life, from hatching to leaving the nest. Visitors can also find a sensory garden, water features and ADA-accessible play areas at Fledging Trail.

The John James Audubon Center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors (age 65 and up), $12 for youth (ages 3-17) and free for children (age 3 and younger) and active members of the military and their immediate family.

The grounds at Mill Grove are open year-round, from dawn to dusk.

Make plans today to visit Montgomery County and see this haven for birders and nature enthusiasts!

When:Opens Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Where:John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon

Cost:$15, adults; $14, seniors (ages 65 & up) and military; $12, youth (ages 3-17); free, children (under 3 years old)

www.johnjames.audubon.org

Source: https://www.uwishunu.com/2019/06/connect-with-nature-at-the-new-john-james-audubon-center-at-mill-grove/

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Eagles' Chris Long Announces NFL Retirement on Twitter After 11 Seasons

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 34 on Saturday after 11 seasons in the league.

He revealed his decision via social media:

Long spent two seasons with the Eagles after a one-year run with the New England Patriots.

During his first season in Philadelphia, Long registered 28.0 tackles and 5.0 sacks en route to helping the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

Long then recorded 23.0 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2018 and helped Philly return to the playoffs.

Following an eight-year stint with the St. Louis Rams (who selected him No. 2 overall in the 2008 NFL draft), the veteran defensive end signed a one-year deal with the Pats prior to the 2016 season.

Although he only started seven games, Long enjoyed a productive campaign with 35.0 tackles, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Long also appeared in the first three playoff games of his career, making a sizable impact in New England's Super Bowl LI victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Long's decision to sign with Philadelphia was detrimental to New England's pass rush, but it represented an upgrade for the Eagles, who already had some solid sack artists in Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett.

Despite doing very little winning with the Rams, Long transitioned seamlessly to New England, and he continued his winning ways with the Eagles by helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Long's best run of success from a statistical perspective came from 2010 through 2013 in St. Louis when he recorded 8.5 or more sacks in each of those four seasons. He will depart the NFL with 70.0 career sacks to his credit.

His retirement leaves a hole in Philadelphia's front seven, but the Eagles have some talented, up-and-coming players on defense who should help fill the void.

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2692401-eagles-chris-long-announces-nfl-retirement-on-twitter-after-11-seasons

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Will BYOB in East Passyunk Is Closing for Good

News

Chef-owner Chris Kearse will open Forsythia, a French bar and restaurant in Old City.

Chef Chris Kearse. Will BYOB | Facebook

Chris Kearse, the chef and owner of Will BYOB, is opening a restaurant in Old City. Forsythia will take over the former Capofitto space at 233 Chestnut Street late this summer.

Unfortunately, that means his East Passyunk flagship will close as of Monday, June 2nd; general manager Ben Jensen-Rosen will move on with him.

Kearse’s story is a remarkable one. At 16, he was severely injured in a car crash with a drunk driver and sustained significant damage to his face, jaw, and sense of smell. It was during his recovery that he dove into studying food and cooking. The chef debuted Will, one of the city’s best BYOs, in 2012 and earned himself a best chef in Philly nod in 2013.

The 2,500 square-foot space became available after Capofitto owner Capogiro ceased operations back in December. Forsythia will have a full bar and seats for 60. The menu will initially be dinner only, with modern French fare designed to be shared — think canapes and small and large plates as well as pasta dishes.

Forsythia is scheduled to open its doors on Saturday, August 24th.

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2019/04/05/will-byob-chris-kearse-forsythia-restaurant-philadelphia/

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Website Ranks Most Popular Netflix Shows By State

Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook  | Twitter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The end of the year always draws a compilation list of “most” things and one of the latest lists reveals the most popular Netflix shows in each state. Highspeedinternet.com ranked the list of the shows most searched for in each state, according to Google Trends.

In Pennsylvania, “Mindhunter” was the leading fan favorite.

In New Jersey, “13 Reasons Why” stood out the most for bingewatchers.

And in Delaware, “Iron First” was the most popular show.

Interestingly enough, Netflix fans in the nation’s capital have a wide range of favorites and had a 16-way tie for most popular show.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/01/02/website-ranks-most-popular-netflix-shows-by-state/

[melodyoctave59-blog]

9 running back options for the Eagles following Jay Ajayi’s injury

Last season an Eagles running back suffered a torn ACL, and then the Eagles traded for a running back. History might be repeating itself as Jay Ajayi is out with a torn ACL and another trade for a running back is a real possibility. But who would be available? There are quite a few backs who might be available, but don’t get too excited.

The unexciting

Ameer Abdullah

Why the Lions would trade him: Abdullah isn’t getting any playing time. At all. He’s played four snaps this season, all on special teams.

Why the Eagles would want him: Abdullah theoretically offers dual threat value. In his first two seasons in Detroit he averaged 4.3 yards per carry and 8.0 yards per reception. If the Eagles can get him back to that level of performance, he’d be a boost. It seems it’s just a matter of time before the Lions move on from him, the Eagles could jump the line and toss Detroit a 7th round pick to make sure they get him.

Theo Riddick

Why the Lions would trade him: Like Abdullah, Riddick can’t get any action, rookie Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount have taken 97 of the Lions 107 handoffs. While Riddick is third on the Lions in receptions with 23, Johnson isn’t far behind with 15, he’s shown himself capable of catching the ball out of the backfield. And the Lions head coach and GM were in New England when the Lions drafted Riddick, so they have no attachments to him (or Abdullah).

Why the Eagles would want him: If the market for a straight up Jay Ajayi replacement isn’t appealing, a fill in for Darren Sproles might be.

Kenyan Drake

Why the Dolphins would trade him: It would be strange to replace Jay Ajayi in 2018 with the guy who replaced Jay Ajayi in 2017. Though he has consistently played more snaps than Gore, Drake has been outcarried by the immortal Frank Gore in each of the last three games, and Gore (4.3 yards per carry) has been more effective as a runner (3.9).

Why the Eagles would want him: Drake is 24, can catch the ball, and is dirt cheap on the salary cap.

Bilal Powell

Why the Jets would trade him: Powell is the nominal starter, but the boom or bust Isaiah Crowell has been more effective, with 5 TDs to Powell’s 0, and two 100 yard games to Powell’s 0, even though Powell out carried Crowell in both games. A free agent after the season, if the rebuilding Jets can get something for him, they should.

Why the Eagles would want him: While Crowell has the scores, Powell has been steady, averaging 5 yards a carry or better in three games. Unless the Eagles can swing a deal for a bonafide starter (we’ll get to that later), Powell’s steady play might be appealing.

Shouldn’t Happen

LeSean McCoy

Why the Bills would trade him: He’s 30, has split time with Chris Ivory, and it’s hard to see how he would have any trade value in the offseason. Right now he probably has no value considering his $6 million salary, off-the-field issues, and drop off in play the last two years, but you never know.

Why the Eagles would want him: They shouldn’t. The Bills offense is awful so everyone is going to look bad in it, but given McCoy’s age and workload over his career there’s no reason to think that getting him out of Buffalo is magically going to make him good. (For what it’s worth, the Eagles reportedly tried to trade for him last year.)

Doug Martin

Why the Raiders would trade him: He’s not playing. Martin’s season high in snap counts is 16, and he’s played less than 25% of snaps in four games. The Raiders have a Week 7 bye, so they might be doing some redecorating very soon. Oakland has already moved on from two veterans they acquired in the offseason, so anything is possible for the Raiders as they spiral downward.

Why the Eagles would want him: They shouldn’t, he hasn’t been good since 2015.

Not Going To Happen

David Johnson

Why the Cardinals would trade him: The Eagles reportedly have interest in Johnson, but the Cardinals have no reason to trade him. Johnson just signed a contract extension, so trading him would swing a wrecking ball to their salary cap, and trading away one of the best running backs from an offense starting a rookie QB would be profoundly stupid. Then again, this is the team that signed Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, so profoundly stupid is within their realm of possibility

Why the Eagles would want him: Of course they would be interested in a top-tier running back in the prime of his career.

Could happen:

Tevin Coleman

Why the Falcons would trade him: At 1-4, the Falcons are all but toast, and Coleman will be a free agent at the end of the season. Rookie Ito Smith has played well as a pass catcher in Devonta Freeman’s absence, so the Falcons may be comfortable moving on from Coleman in-season if the price is right, as Coleman should get them a pretty good comp pick for 2020.

Why the Eagles would want him: Why wouldn’t they. Coleman is 25, can run and catch, and he has plenty of tread on the tire, he’s had 20+ touches in a game only four times in his career.

Maaaaaayyyybe It’ll Happen

Le’Veon Bell

Why the Steelers would trade him: Do I really need to explain?

Why the Eagles would want him: Again, do I really need to explain?

A few words on why the Eagles wouldn’t want him: If they can’t agree on a new contract, the Steelers are going to get a 3rd round pick in 2020 for Bell, so any trade is going to have to top that. Even if the Eagles were willing to top a 2020 3rd and give up a good player that the Steelers would want, they’d also have to open up the cap space to take on his contract, which currently stands at $10.3 million, though with every passing week that decreases by $855,529. Which they may or may not have done.

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/10/8/17953774/running-back-trade-rumors-nfl-eagles-jay-ajayi-injury-leveon-bell-lesean-mccoy-david-johnson-blount

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Website Maintenance

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website to make your gift.

Please note we are currently completing updates to our website. Online giving will be unavailable from 9 PM, Monday, August 27 to 4:30 AM on Tuesday, August 28.

Please fill out the form here to inform the Development Office that you’d like to make a gift, and we will contact you during business hours.

Annual Fund staff can be reached at 215.893.3151, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, or any time at development@philorch.org.

Thank you for your support of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Source: https://www.philorch.org/website-maintenance

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Game Recap | Before Butler's Arrival, a Win in Miami

Snapshot:

The 76ers may have been without Jimmy Butler, but they were not without success, again, in Miami.

No, it will be a couple more days before Butler - acquired Monday from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a dramatic, energizing trade - dons on a Sixers uniform for the first time.

As for the teammates he’ll soon be joining, well, they delivered a strong victory Monday at American Airlines Arena, 124-114, over the Heat.

"We went out there, stayed with our concepts, and stayed together as a team,” said Ben Simmons, who tallied 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

After playing two overtime games in as many days over the weekend, the Sixers seemed to benefit from some Sunday rest. They came out clicking against Miami, Joel Embiid and JJ Redick in particular.

From start-to-finish, the duo proved tough to contain. Joel Embiid racked up 35 points (8-15 fg, 3-4 3fg) and 18 rebounds, while Redick supplied 25 points (11-20 fg, 3-9 3fg) in a starting role.

For Embiid, he now has more 30-point, 10-rebound games than he doesn’t. Monday marked his eighth in 15 appearances.

“No one can guard him,” Simmons said.

The Sixers also benefited from some nice bench play, as Furkan Korkmaz set a new career-high with 16 points (5-9 fg, 3-6 3fg). A masked Mike Muscala, returning from a face injury, chipped in with 13 points and 8 boards.

Rookie Landry Shamet chipped in with 10 points (3-5 fg, 2-4 3fg).

“It’s hard in the NBA to stand strong and have your spirit when you don’t play,” Brown said about the Sixers’ bench corps. “Especially for the guys who don’t play that much, it is very difficult to overcome.”

Several of the second-stringers did, however.

Throughout the majority of Monday’s competitive, up-and-down battle, the Sixers and Heat were neck-in-neck. Miami took a seven-point lead in the second period, but the Sixers fought back for a two-point, 64-62, halftime advantage.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the outcome still in doubt, Simmons helped put Monday’s game away. He threw down a pair of vicious dunks during a decisive 11-2 run that upped the lead from four to 14 points.

“It was a good win for us,” said Brown.

here for a complete box score.

Notable Nuggets: Back on Track Joel Embiid’s stat line Monday was another massive one.

He had a reason for that.

“I liked playing up to my potential like I’m supposed to,” said Embiid. “I wanted to go out there and prove to everyone that I am the best player in the league.”

The 7-foot All-Star logged heavy minutes over the weekend, when the Sixers played overtime games at home Friday versus Charlotte, and on the road Saturday at Memphis.

Against the Grizzlies, he acknowledged he wasn’t feeling like himself. Monday in South Florida, it was clear that he was.

“When you look at the numbers when Joel Embiid is on the floor with the Philadelphia 76ers, it is impressive,” Brown said.

Embiid’s 5.7 on-court net rating is the highest among all Sixers. So too is the club’s -12.4 net rating when he’s off the court.

“I just went in there with the mentality to dominate,” said Embiid.

Opportunity Knocks With the Jimmy Butler deal temporarily leaving the Sixers shorthanded, there were minutes to be had the past two games.

Furkan Korkmaz made the most of his. Coming off the bench Monday in Miami, he netted a career-high 16 points.

This effort followed a 12-point showing Saturday in Memphis.

“That’s what life’s about, it’s opportunity,” said Brett Brown. “You just have to stay ready.”

“I felt I played good today, and we won,” Korkmaz said. “I just want to be perfect for the team. I want to keep showing I can play in any role, and I did that tonight.”

Trimming Turnovers The turnovers were relatively low for the Sixers at the outset of the new season. Lately, however, they’ve become more prevalent.

Saturday in Memphis, for instance, the team gave the ball away 23 times.

But against the Miami Heat, the Sixers yielded just 10 turnovers, which tied a season-low.

Brett Brown was glad the message got home.

“I told [the team] you can do whatever you want, but the bottom line is, we are not going to win,” he said.

More turnovers typically means more shots for the opposition. Monday, it was the other way around.

“They did a good job in that area tonight,” said Brown.

‘Gram of the Game:

Outside, inside, any side - Joel Embiid scored all over the court Monday.

Up Next:

To close out a three-game road trip, the Sixers will roll out their brand new All-Star addition. If all goes according to plan, the recently acquired Jimmy Butler will make his first appearance in red, white, and blue Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. The Sixers snuck past Orlando, 116-115, the third game of the season. That night, Joel Embiid went for 32 points, while JJ Redick finished with 31.

Source: https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/buzzer-butlers-arrival-win-miami

[melodyoctave59-blog]

Open Thread: How can the city fight congestion?

It’s no secret that Philly is booming—nearly 50,000 people have come to the city since 2010—and with more residents comes more congestion.

That was the focus of several measures introduced Thursday by city officials looking to cut down on the gridlock plaguing Center City.

The first measure was a proposed amendment introduced by City Council President Darrell Clarke during council Thursday morning. The amendment would establish a new group of city employees called Public Safety Enforcement Officers, who would handle traffic regulation and provide aid to police during special events. They wouldn’t carry weapons or have the ability to arrest people, but they would ease the burden of police officers. Speaking about the amendment Thursday, Clarke said that there simply aren’t enough police to cover both traffic and more serious crime issues.

The second measure came just hours later when Mayor Jim Kenney announced that his office had banded together with SEPTA, the PPA, and the police department to focus on reducing Center City congestion. The plan, which goes into effect Monday, would see the transit departments and police step up their enforcement, bringing more officers to Market and Chestnut streets, specifically, and cracking down on traffic and parking violations. They want to target those misusing bike and bus lanes, blocking the box, and illegally parking in the street or median.

Of course, congestion has consequences that are more far-reaching than merely making people late for work. There are safety issues that come with drivers taking over bike lanes, cutting off buses, or parking where they shouldn’t be. In fact, two bikers were hit in serious accidents—one of which proved fatal—last year, prompting the city to announce a bike lane repaving project.

But among all the proposals regarding cutting down on congestion, we want to hear from you. How could the city fight congestion and improve safety? Should the mayor’s plan expand beyond Center City? What areas should officials target, and what violations in particular? Would Clarke’s proposal have an impact?

Let us know what you think in the comments.

To combat congestion, city officials announce plan for stricter enforcement [Curbed Philly]

Center City bike lane safety project postponed [Curbed Philly]

Source: https://philly.curbed.com/2018/9/21/17883466/open-thread-congestion-center-city-philly-bike-car